Knock-down, drag-out fight erupts after woman asks man 'why he didn’t season the chicken that was cooking'

Left to right: Anothony Harper and Hope Harper (Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office).

A South Carolina family let their chicken preparation preferences get the better of them as a get-together dedicated to cooking and supper devolved into an odd and violent brawl, according to law enforcement.

Anothony Harper, 27, stands accused of one count each of assault and battery in the second degree and assault and battery in the third degree over the almost slapstick chicken frying fracas, according to the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office. Hope Harper, 25, stands accused of a lone count of third-degree assault and battery.

At stake in the alleged fight was both pride and poultry.

The fowl dispute occurred on Sunday evening, according to a sheriff’s office incident report obtained by Law&Crime.

Deputies were called about a fight at a house on Cody Lane on the night in question. Authorities would learn about several different spurts of violence between two people — an on-and-off again contretemps that began over the flavor, or apparent lack thereof, of the chicken being cooked by the man.

The woman allegedly told investigators she asked the man “why he didn’t season the chicken that was cooking so it could crust up.”

After that, she said, he attacked her.

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“I know how to cook and Grammy was going to season the chicken,” Anothony Harper allegedly replied — defending his skills in the kitchen.

At that point, Hope Harper allegedly said: “You’re not human, you’re a dumb dog.” Then, upon receiving that second slight, he allegedly pushed the woman into the kitchen table, fell down on top of her, and punched her in the face repeatedly – approximately five times, deputies estimate – with a closed fist. The woman scratched the man’s arms in response to being punched, deputies say.

A third party then made their way to the kitchen and fired a 9 mm handgun into the ceiling to stop the attack, according to the report. But the respite did not last very long.

At some point, Anothony Harper was held back and Hope Harper allegedly seized the opportunity to gain an advantage.

During the lull, the woman began chasing the man around the house with a steak knife, deputies wrote in the incident report.

“She’s going to kill me,” the man allegedly said, while breaking free and fleeing.

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The man then ran to his grandmother’s bedroom door in fear for his life, deputies wrote in the report. The Harpers’ grandmother then came out of her bedroom, grabbed a broom, and swatted at the woman until she put the knife away and retreated.

Again, the calm did not last.

Anothony Harper allegedly obtained a can of Raid insecticide and began spraying Hope Harper in her face and neck. The woman then allegedly grabbed the can and sprayed him back.

When deputies arrived, they both insisted on pressing charges against one another. Law enforcement complied with those requests.

Both were arrested that same night and subsequently released on bond on Tuesday.

Editor’s note: this article has been amended post-publication to include additional details from the incident report.

The post Knock-down, drag-out fight erupts after woman asks man ‘why he didn’t season the chicken that was cooking’ first appeared on Law & Crime .